K-3RD EZEKIEL + MARK A BIBLE READING WORKBOOK

WEEKS 5-8 USING THIS WORKBOOK

This guide will take you through 12 weeks of Bible reading. There HEARING FROM GOD TOGETHER are five readings each week. Each time you read, ask the Holy Spirit to talk to you. The Holy Spirit can help you know God better by THROUGH SCRIPTURE reading the Bible. READING THE BOOK OF MARK

The book of Mark is about Jesus. When you read, think about what kind of person Jesus is. What does he like? What makes him angry? What would it be like to spend time with him? READING THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

The book of Ezekiel is about a prophet. Prophets tell people what God is thinking and feeling and doing. Ezekiel tells God’s people that God is unhappy because they are not loving God very well. Instead, they are sinning and hurting themselves and other people. Pay attention - because even though they are doing bad things, God never leaves them! WEEK 5 DAY 1 WEEK 5 DAY 1

READING EZEKIEL 10:1-22 REFLECTION

Then I looked and saw the sky above the heads of the living creatures. This time, Ezekiel sees a vision of the temple in Jerusalem. If you I saw something like a sapphire gem. It looked like a throne. The remember, this is where he used to live and where he would have Lord said to the man dressed in linen, “Go in between the wheels started working as a priest before he was taken captive by the under the living creatures. And fill your hands with coals of fire from Babylonians. He sees God’s presence leave the Temple. The amazing between the living creatures. Scatter the coals over the city.” part is that Ezekiel has also seen God’s presence come to him by the river. God is with him wherever he goes! As I watched, the man with linen clothes went in. Now the living creatures were standing on the south side of the Temple when the Can you draw some of the places that God goes with you? man went in. And the cloud from the Lord filled the inner courtyard. Then the glory of the Lord went up from the living creatures. And it stood over the door of the Temple. The Temple was filled with the cloud. And the courtyard was full of the brightness from the glory of the Lord. The sound of the wings of the living creatures was heard all the way to the outer courtyard. It was like the voice of God All- Powerful when he speaks. Then the glory of the Lord left the door of the Temple and stood over the living creatures. The living creatures spread their wings. And they flew up from the ground while I watched. As they went up, the wheels stayed by their sides. They stood where the east gate of the Temple of the Lord opened. The glory of the God of Israel was over them. These are the living creatures I had seen under the God of Israel by the Kebar River. WEEK 5 DAY 2 WEEK 5 DAY 2

READING MARK 6:14-29 REFLECTION

King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus was now well known. Did you notice what Mark wrote about Herod listening to John Some people said, “He is John the Baptist. He is risen from death. preach? He wrote, “Herod enjoyed listening to John preach. But That is the reason he can work these miracles.” John’s preaching always bothered him.” John preached that people should repent - turn and follow God. Why might that bother Herod? Others said, “He is Elijah.” Why might he like it at the same time? Other people said, “Jesus is a prophet. He is like the prophets who lived long ago.” Herod heard all these things about Jesus. He said, “I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has been raised from death!” Here’s what had happened: Herod ordered his soldiers to arrest John. While John was arrested, he made Herod’s wife, Herodia, mad - so mad that she wanted to kill John. But Herod liked listening to John preach, even though it bothered him, so he didn’t want to hurt John. Eventually, Herodia found a way to trick her husband into killing John. WEEK 5 DAY 3 WEEK 5 DAY 3

READING MARK 6:30-44 he divided the two fish among them all.All the people ate and were satisfied. The followers filled 12 baskets with the pieces of bread and The apostles that Jesus had sent out to preach returned. They fish that were not eaten. There were about 5,000 men there who ate. gathered around him and told him about all the things they had done and taught. Crowds of people were coming and going. Jesus REFLECTION and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come with me. We will go to a quiet place to be alone. There we Right at the beginning of this passage, Jesus and his disciples take a will get some rest.” break together. They go to a quiet place to be alone and rest. Do you like quiet places? How do you like to rest? You can try right now - So they went in a boat alone to a place where there were no people. find a quiet place to be alone, and try asking the Holy Spirit to rest But many people saw them leave and recognized them. So people with you. from all the towns ran to the place where Jesus was going. They got there before Jesus arrived. When he landed, he saw a great crowd waiting. Jesus felt sorry for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things. It was now late in the day. Jesus’ followers came to him and said, “No one lives in this place. And it is already very late. Send the people away. They need to go to the farms and towns around here to buy some food to eat.” But Jesus answered, “You give them food to eat.” They said to him, “We can’t buy enough bread to feed all these people! We would all have to work a month to earn enough money to buy that much bread!” Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have now? Go and see.” When they found out, they came to him and said, “We have five loaves and two fish.” Then Jesus said to the followers, “Tell all the people to sit in groups on the green grass.” So all the people sat in groups. They sat in groups of 50 or groups of 100. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish. He looked up to heaven and thanked God for the bread. He divided the bread and gave it to his followers for them to give to the people. Then WEEK 5 DAY 4 WEEK 5 DAY 4

READING MARK 6:45-56 REFLECTION

Then Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go to Bethsaida Jesus keeps doing amazing miracles - healing people and multiplying on the other side of the lake. Jesus said that he would come later. He bread. But it sounds like the disciples are still surprised when he stayed there to tell the people they could go home. After sending walks on water. Sometimes, we hear about things Jesus does without them away, he went into the hills to pray. thinking about who Jesus is. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you know Jesus better. See if you can write down a few words that describe That night, the boat was in the middle of the lake. Jesus was alone who Jesus IS, without using words that just say what Jesus DOES. on the land. He saw the followers working hard to row the boat because the wind was blowing against them. At some time between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. He continued walking until he was almost past the boat. But when his followers saw him walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost and cried out. They all saw him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke to them and said, “Have courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them. And the wind became calm. The followers were greatly amazed. They had seen Jesus make more bread from the five loaves. But they did not understand what it meant. Their minds were closed. WEEK 5 DAY 5 WEEK 5 DAY 5

READING MARK 7:1-13 REFLECTION

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law said to Jesus, “Your It seems like Jesus is angry! He calls the Pharisees and teachers followers don’t follow the rules given to us by our great people who “hypocrites.” These teachers were trying to bend what the Bible said lived before us. Why do they do this?” to benefit themselves - even if it meant hurting other people. Jesus reminded them that following God means also loving other people. Jesus answered, “You are all hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he What are some ways that you love or take care of other people? spoke about you. Isaiah wrote, ‘These people show honor to me with words. But their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is worthless. The things they teach are nothing but human rules they have memorized.’ You have stopped following the commands of God. Now you only follow the teachings of men.” Then Jesus said to them: “You think you are clever! You ignore the commands of God so that you can follow your own teachings! Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother.’ Then Moses also said, ‘Anyone who says cruel things to his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you teach that a person can say to his father or mother, ‘I have something I could use to help you. But I will not use it for you. I will give it to God.’ You are telling that person that he does not have to do anything for his father or mother. So you are teaching that it is not important to do what God said. You think that it is more important to follow your own rules, which you teach people. And you do many things like that.” WEEK 6 DAY 1 WEEK 6 DAY 1

READING EZEKIEL 29:1-16 REFLECTION

It was the tenth year, in the tenth month of our captivity. It was on One of the sins of Israel was that they had been relying on Egypt’s the twelfth day of the month. The Lord spoke his word to me. He help instead of trusting God. But the people of Egypt also thought said: “Human being, look toward the king of Egypt. And prophesy they didn’t need God, so when Israel asked them for help, it was bad against him and all Egypt. Say: ‘This is what the Lord God says: for everybody. Do you ever get bad help or advice from friends that doesn’t sound like what God would want? Write about how you can “‘Israel tried to lean on you for help. But you were like a crutch made figure out if the help you’re getting is what God would want. out of a weak stalk of grass. When their hands grabbed you, you splintered and tore open their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke and made all their backs twist. “‘So this is what the Lord God says: I will cause an enemy to attack you. He will kill your men and animals. Then Egypt will become an empty desert. They will know that I am the Lord. Egypt’s punishment will remind the Israelites of their sin. They turned to Egypt for help and not to God. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.’” WEEK 6 DAY 2 WEEK 6 DAY 2

READING MARK 7:14-23 REFLECTION

Jesus called the people to him again. He said, “Every person should One of the ways the people of Israel tried to follow God was by listen to me and understand what I am saying. There is nothing a eating certain foods. But Jesus said God cares more about what person puts into his body that makes him unclean. A person is made comes from the inside - a person’s attitudes and actions. He also says unclean by the things that come out of him. 16 [Let those with ears that these bad things come from inside a person. Sometimes, I like use them and listen!]” to think that my bad decisions were caused by how other people are acting. This is a good reminder that Jesus, who can make anything When Jesus left the people and went inside, his followers asked him better, can help MY inside attitudes and actions be more loving. Do about this story. Jesus said, “Do you still have trouble understanding? you have any attitudes or actions that you can ask the Holy Spirit to Surely you know that nothing that enters a man from the outside change in you? can make him unclean. Food does not go into a person’s mind. Food goes into his stomach. Then that food goes out of his body.” (When Jesus said this, he meant that there is no food that is unclean for people to eat.) And Jesus said, “The things that come out of a man are the things that make him unclean. All these evil things begin inside a person, in the mind: evil thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, selfishness, doing bad things to other people, lying, doing sinful things, jealousy, saying bad things about people, pride, and foolish living. All these evil things come from within a person. These things make a person unclean.” WEEK 6 DAY 3 WEEK 6 DAY 3

READING MARK 7:24-37 REFLECTION

Jesus left that place and went to the area around Tyre. He went into The woman who asked Jesus to heal her daughter was not Jewish, a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. But Jesus like Jesus was. Many people thought that meant she should be asking could not stay hidden. A woman heard that he was there. Her little Jesus for healing at all - but Jesus still healed her daughter. Are there daughter had an evil spirit in her. So the woman quickly came to any people you stay away from just because they’re different from Jesus and fell at his feet. She was not Jewish. She was Greek, born you? What can you learn from Jesus here? in Phoenicia, in Syria. She begged Jesus to force the demon out of her daughter. Jesus told the woman: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs. First let the children eat all they want.” She answered, “That is true, Lord. But the dogs under the table can eat the pieces of food that the children don’t eat.” Then Jesus said, “That is a very good answer. You may go. The demon has left your daughter.” The woman went home and found her daughter lying in bed. The demon was gone. WEEK 6 DAY 4 WEEK 6 DAY 4

READING MARK 7:14-23 Among themselves, his disciples discussed the meaning of this. They said, “He said this because we have no bread.” Another time there was a great crowd with Jesus. They had nothing to eat. So Jesus called his followers to him. He said, “I feel sorry for Jesus knew what his followers were talking about. So he asked them, these people. They have been with me for three days, and now they “Why are you talking about having no bread? You still don’t see or have nothing to eat. I cannot send them home hungry. If they leave understand? Are your minds closed? You have eyes, but you don’t without eating, they will faint on the way home. Some of them live really see. You have ears, but you don’t really listen. Remember what a long way from here.” I did before, when we did not have enough bread? I divided five loaves of bread for 5,000 people. Remember how many baskets you Jesus’ followers answered, “But we are far away from any towns. filled with pieces of food that were not eaten?” Where can we get enough bread to feed all these people?” They answered, “We filled 12 baskets.” Jesus asked, “How many loaves of bread do you have?” “And remember that I divided seven loaves of bread for 4,000 people. They answered, “We have seven loaves.” Remember how many baskets you filled with pieces of food that Jesus told the people to sit on the ground. Then he took the seven were not eaten?” loaves and gave thanks to God. Jesus divided the bread and gave the They answered, “We filled 7 baskets.” pieces to his followers. He told them to pass out the bread to the people, and they did so. The followers also had a few small fish. Jesus Then Jesus said to them, “You remember these things I did, but you gave thanks for the fish and told his followers to give the fish to the still don’t understand?” people. All the people ate and were satisfied. Then the followers filled REFLECTION seven baskets with the pieces of food that were not eaten. There were about 4,000 men who ate. After they had eaten, Jesus told them to Sometimes, Jesus would tell stories with his actions. The trouble is go home. Then he went in a boat with his followers to the area of that the disciples didn’t always know what the point of the story Dalmanutha. was...can you think of any of the stories Jesus told that are confusing? The Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him questions. They wanted What do you think he was trying to say with the bread in this story? to trap him. So they asked Jesus to do a miracle to show that he was from God. Jesus sighed deeply. He said, “Why do you people ask for a miracle as proof? I tell you the truth. No miracle will be given to you.” Then Jesus left the Pharisees. He went in the boat to the other side of the lake. The followers had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. They had forgotten to bring more bread. Jesus warned them, “Be careful! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” WEEK 6 DAY 5 WEEK 6 DAY 5

READING MARK 7:24-37 REFLECTION

Then Jesus began to teach his followers that the Son of Man ( Jesus) Here, Mark writes about another time where Jesus had to remind his must suffer many things. He taught that the Son of Man would not disciples to care about what God cares about more than what men be accepted by the Jewish elders, the leading priests, and the teachers care about. Think about your life...what would God say are the most of the law. He taught that the Son of Man must be killed and then important things you think and do? Is that the same as what you rise from death after three days. Jesus told them plainly what would parents think and do? Your friends? happen. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to criticize him. But Jesus turned and looked at his followers. Then he criticized Peter and said, “Go away from me, Satan! You don’t care about the things of God. You care only about things men think are important.” Then Jesus called the crowd to him, along with his followers. He said, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must say ‘no’ to the things he wants. He must be willing to die on a cross, and he must follow me. Whoever wants to save his life will give up true life. But whoever gives up his life for me and for the Good News will have true life forever.” WEEK 7 DAY 1 WEEK 7 DAY 1

READING EZEKIEL 30:1-19 REFLECTION

The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, “Human being, prophesy A lot of things are happening here - some good (Egypt will know I and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: am the Lord), and some bad (people will be taken away as captives). Have you ever done something that made you feel mixed emotions? “I will destroy the idols. What happened? And I will take away the statues of false gods from the city of Memphis. There will no longer be a leader in Egypt. And I will spread fear through the land of Egypt. I will make southern Egypt empty. I will start a fire in Zoan. I will punish Thebes. And I will pour out my anger against Pelusium, the strong place of Egypt. I will destroy great numbers of people in Thebes. I will set fire to Egypt. Pelusium will be in great pain. The walls of Thebes will be broken open. And Memphis will have troubles every day. The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis will fall dead in war. And the people will be taken away as captives. In Tahpanhes the day will be dark when I break Egypt’s power. A cloud will cover Egypt. And her villages will be captured and taken away. So I will punish Egypt. And they will know I am the Lord.’” WEEK 7 DAY 2 WEEK 7 DAY 2

READING MARK 9:1-13 REFLECTION

Then Jesus said to the people, “I tell you the truth. Some of you Moses and Elijah lived a long time before Jesus did. But, like Jesus, standing here will see the kingdom of God come with power before they pointed people to God. Even in this passage, the voice that you die.” Peter, James, and John hear says, “Listen to him.” It seems like God uses people to connect other people to Himself. Have you ever done Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went up on a high this - helped someone connect to God? How? Has anyone done it mountain. They were all alone there. While these followers watched, for you? Jesus was changed. His clothes became shining white, whiter than any person could make them. Then two men appeared, talking with Jesus. The men were Moses and Elijah. Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good that we are here. We will put three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened. Then a cloud came and covered them. A voice came from the cloud. The voice said, “This is my Son, and I love him. Obey him!” Then Peter, James, and John looked around, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them. As Jesus and his followers were walking back down the mountain, he commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone about the things you saw on the mountain. Wait till the Son of Man rises from death. Then you may tell.” So the followers obeyed Jesus and said nothing about what they had seen. But they discussed what Jesus meant about rising from death. WEEK 7 DAY 3 WEEK 7 DAY 3

READING MARK 9:14-29 The evil spirit screamed and caused the boy to fall on the ground again. Then the spirit came out. The boy looked as if he were dead. Then Jesus, Peter, James, and John went to the other followers. They And many people said, “He is dead!” But Jesus took hold of the boy’s saw a great crowd around them. The teachers of the law were arguing hand and helped him to stand up. with them. But when the crowd saw Jesus, they were surprised and ran to welcome him. Jesus went into the house. His followers were alone with him there. They said, “Why couldn’t we force that evil spirit out?” Jesus asked, “What are you arguing about with the teachers of the law?” Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can only be forced out by prayer.” A man answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit REFLECTION from the devil in him. This spirit stops him from talking. The spirit attacks him and throws him on the ground. My son foams at the It looks like it took some work to heal this little boy. The boy’s father mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes very stiff. I asked your followers went to the disciples for help, but they couldn’t heal the little boy. So to force the evil spirit out, but they couldn’t.” then, they went to Jesus. Jesus made the demon leave the boy alone - but did you catch what he said: “That kind of spirit can only be Jesus answered, “You people don’t believe! How long must I stay forced out by prayer.” Why do you think Jesus was able to do what with you? How long must I go on being patient with you? Bring the the disciples weren’t? boy to me!” So the followers brought him to Jesus. As soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus, it attacked the boy. He fell down and rolled on the ground, foaming from his mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening?” The father answered, “Since he was very young. The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything for him, please have pity on us and help us.” Jesus said to the father, “You said, ‘If you can!’ All things are possible for him who believes.” Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe! Help me to believe more!” Jesus saw that a crowd was running there to see what was happening. So he spoke to the evil spirit, saying, “You deaf and dumb spirit—I command you to come out of this boy and never enter him again!” WEEK 7 DAY 4 WEEK 7 DAY 4

READING MARK 9:30-37 REFLECTION

Then Jesus and his followers left that place and went through Galilee. What would it feel like to be the child Jesus picked out of the crowd? Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was because he wanted How do you think the grown-ups felt? How did Jesus feel? to teach his followers alone. He said to them, “The Son of Man will be given to men who will kill him. After three days, he will rise from death.” But the followers did not understand what Jesus meant. And they were afraid to ask. Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum and went into a house there. Then Jesus said to them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But the followers did not answer, because their argument on the road was about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus sat down and called the 12 apostles to him. He said, “If anyone wants to be the most important, then he must be last of all and servant of all.” Then Jesus took a small child and had him stand among them. He took the child in his arms and said, “If anyone accepts children like these in my name, then he is also accepting me. And if he accepts me, then he is also accepting the One who sent me.” WEEK 7 DAY 5 WEEK 7 DAY 5

READING MARK 9:38 - 10:12 REFLECTION

Then John said, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to force Right at the beginning of this passage, the disciples tell Jesus that demons out of a person. We told him to stop, because he does not other people are starting to fight demons in Jesus’ name. The phrase belong to our group.” “in Jesus’ name” means that they would tell demons to go away because it’s what Jesus would want (kind of like when you tell your Jesus said, “Don’t stop him. Anyone who uses my name to do brother or sister to do something because mom said so). The disciples powerful things will not say evil things about me. He who is not thought that they were the only ones who could do this. What did against us is with us. I tell you the truth. If anyone helps you by Jesus tell them? giving you a drink of water because you belong to the Christ, then he will truly get his reward. “If one of these little children believes in me, and someone causes that child to sin, then it will be very bad for him. It would be better for him to have a large stone tied around his neck and be drowned in the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to lose part of your body but have life forever. That is much better than to have two hands and go to hell. WEEK 8 DAY 1 WEEK 8 DAY 1

READING EZEKIEL 33:10-20 REFLECTION

“So you, human being, say to Israel: ‘You have said: Surely our law- God judges people for several reasons - because He’s holy, because breaking and sins are hurting us. They will kill us. What can we do he wants people to enjoy life with him, because he wants them to so we will live?’ Say to them: ‘The Lord God says: As surely as I live, stop hurting other people. Have you ever felt guilty about doing this is true. I do not want a wicked person to die. I want him to stop something wrong? Did you talk to God about it? How did you feel doing evil and live. Turn back! Turn back from your wicked ways! after you talked to God? You don’t want to die, people of Israel.’ “And you, human being, say to your people: ‘The goodness of a good person will not save him when he sins. The evil of the wicked person will not cause him to be punished if he turns from it. A good person will not be able to live by the good he did earlier if he sins.’ I might tell the good person, “You will surely live.” But he might think he has done enough good and then do evil. Then none of the good things he did will be remembered. He will die because of the evil he has done. Or, I might say to the wicked person, “You will surely die.” But he might turn from his sin and do what is right and honest. He returns what somebody gave him as a promise to repay a loan. He pays back what he stole. He lives by the rules that give life. He does not sin. Then that one will surely live. He will not die. He will not be punished for any of his sins. He now does what is right and fair. He will surely live. WEEK 8 DAY 2 WEEK 8 DAY 2

READING MARK 10:13-31 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. Everyone who has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields for me and for the Jesus started to leave, but a man ran to him and fell on his knees Good News will get a hundred times more than he left. Here in this before Jesus. The man asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to get world he will have more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, the life that never ends?” and fields. And with those things, he will also suffer for his belief. Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except But in the age that is coming he will have life forever. Many who are God alone. You know the commands: ‘You must not murder anyone. first now will be last in the future. And those who are last now will You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not steal. You must not be first in the future.” tell lies about your neighbor in court. You must not cheat. Honor REFLECTION your father and mother.’” Do you think it was an easy choice for Peter and the disciples to The man said, “Teacher, I have obeyed all these commands since I leave their homes and families and follow Jesus? It seems like Jesus was a boy.” is telling them that giving up good things like homes and families to Jesus looked straight at the man and loved him. Jesus said, “There is follow him was the right decision. Why do you think that is? Do you still one more thing you need to do. Go and sell everything you have, ever feel like you have to give something up to follow Jesus? and give the money to the poor. You will have a reward in heaven. Then come and follow me.” He was very sad to hear Jesus say this, and he left. The man was sad because he was very rich. Then Jesus looked at his followers and said, “How hard it will be for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The followers were amazed at what Jesus said. But he said again, “My children, it is very hard to enter the kingdom of God! And it will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle!” The followers were even more amazed and said to each other, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked straight at them and said, “For people this is impossible. But for God all things are possible.” Peter said to Jesus, “We left everything to follow you!” WEEK 8 DAY 3 WEEK 8 DAY 3

READING MARK 10:32-45 REFLECTION

James and John, sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. They said, “Teacher, Sometimes, it feels good to be important - to be a team captain or a we want to ask you to do something for us.” group leader. Do you notice how Jesus says leaders should act? Are there any people you can serve right now? What can you do? Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” They answered, “You will have glory in your kingdom. Let one of us sit at your right, and let one of us sit at your left.” Jesus said, “You don’t understand what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I must drink? And can you be baptized with the same kind of baptism that I must have?” They answered, “Yes, we can!” Jesus said to them, “You will drink the same cup that I will drink. And you will be baptized with the same baptism that I must have. But I cannot choose who will sit at my right or my left. These places are for those for whom they are prepared.” The ten followers heard this. They began to be angry with James and John. Jesus called all the followers together. He said, “The non-Jewish people have men they call rulers. You know that those rulers love to show their power over the people. And their important leaders love to use all their authority. But it should not be that way among you. If one of you wants to become great, then he must serve you like a servant. If one of you wants to become the most important, then he must serve all of you like a slave. In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve. The Son of Man came to give his life to save many people.” WEEK 8 DAY 4 WEEK 8 DAY 4

READING MARK 10:46-52 REFLECTION

Then they came to the town of Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Did you notice that many people thought the blind man was not there with his followers and a large crowd, a blind beggar named worthy of Jesus’ attention? Have you ever felt like an unimportant Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting by the road. He heard that person or like nobody noticed you? What would Jesus say to you in Jesus from Nazareth was walking by. The blind man cried out, “Jesus, that space? Son of David, please help me!” Many people scolded the blind man and told him to be quiet. But he shouted more and more, “Son of David, please help me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Tell the man to come here.” So they called the blind man. They said, “Cheer up! Get to your feet. Jesus is calling you.” The blind man stood up quickly. He left his coat there and went to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man answered, “Teacher, I want to see again.” Jesus said, “Go. You are healed because you believed.” At once the man was able to see again, and he followed Jesus on the road. WEEK 8 DAY 5 WEEK 8 DAY 5

READING MARK 11:1-11 REFLECTION

Jesus and his followers were coming closer to Jerusalem. They came Can you imagine what it would be like to be there when Jesus rode to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. this colt into town? The crowd is cheering and praising God - they There Jesus sent two of his followers. He said to them, “Go to the believed that Jesus was the King they had been waiting for. What town you see there. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied which kind of things do Kings do? Is that like what Jesus has been doing no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me. If anyone with his disciples? asks you why you are doing this, tell him, ‘The Master needs the colt. He will send it back soon.’” The followers went into the town. They found a colt tied in the street near the door of a house, and they untied it. Some people were standing there and asked, “What are you doing? Why are you untying that colt?” The followers answered the way Jesus told them to answer. And the people let them take the colt. The followers brought the colt to Jesus. They put their coats on the colt, and Jesus sat on it. Many people spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches in the fields and spread the branches on the road. Some of the people were walking ahead of Jesus. Others were following him. All of them were shouting, “Praise God! God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the kingdom of our father David! That kingdom is coming! Praise to God in heaven!” Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. When he had looked at everything, and since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the 12 apostles.